Abstract
<p>Shared family mealtimes provide important nutritional and psychosocial benefits, yet research has prioritised meal frequency and place over quality interactions, particularly meaningful family mealtime conversations. This scoping review examines (i) how meaningful family mealtime conversations are defined and (ii) how their nature and function are conceptualised in the literature. A PRISMA-ScR-guided scoping review was conducted from inception to June 2026 across six databases (PsycINFO, PsycArticles, ERIC, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Collection) using the following key search terms: "meal*time" OR “family meal*” OR dinner* OR “family eating” OR “shared meal*” OR commensal* OR “family table" OR “evening meal*” AND conversation* OR communication* OR talk* OR dialogue* OR “meaningful talk”. Thirty-three studies (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods) were included and analysed using content and thematic analysis. Definitions of meaningful family mealtime conversations included: sharing/problem-solving, reciprocal talk, positive communication, moral and social meaning-making, role negotiation/socialisation, humour, storytelling, and nostalgia. Six themes were explored: (i) What Families Talk About; (ii) Why Mealtime Conversations Matter; (iii) How Stories Shape Meaning; (iv) Who Speaks and How; (v) Contextual Conditions; and (vi) Outcomes of Mealtime Talk. Across the literature, we found that conversations centred on everyday experiences, emotional exchange, identity construction, and relational processes. Outcomes of meaningful family mealtime conversations included improved emotional wellbeing, family cohesion, language development, and social competence. The studies indicate that meaningfulness arose not from meal frequency but from how families communicate, through inclusive, emotionally responsive, and narrative-rich exchanges. Supporting flexible, low-pressure opportunities for conversation may enhance family wellbeing across diverse contexts.</p>